'80s fashions make comeback among youths

Though we never had cable or satellite when I was a child, I'm nevertheless part of the MTV generation É that group of consumers that followed trends and fads with the speed of a 56K processor and laptops the size of a small car.

We watched music rather than just listening to it and ushered in the talentless glut of pop music found in the late 1990s.

And now that I'm finally out of the mainstream 18- to 24-year-old category MTV so desperately craves, I've become part of the VH1 generation. Less music and more show, VH1 draws us all in with their trips down memory lane. Their most recent time stealer: "I Love the '80s 3-D."

Unlike its two dimensional predecessor, this version of pop culture from the decade of Reagan and Cabbage Patch Kids bursts out of the screen with the magic of 1980s special effects.

What's worse than big hair and spandex? Big hair and spandex jumping out of your screen. What's more ridiculous than "Circus of the Stars?" Well, very little.

But after an evening of time travel to the age of MicroMachines, it's hard not to notice that some 1980s fashions are popular on college campuses today, though with a slight face lift. Two that I've fallen for: off-the-shoulder T-shirts and cropped sweatshirts.

Let's start with the basics. For an off-the-shoulder T-shirt the only supplies you need are a pair of scissors and an appropriately-sized T-shirt. There's no real need for measurement in this project, though depending on the look you want you might consider bringing along a tape measure.

Your first trim is around the neck of the shirt. I like to cut about 2 inches in from the edge of the collar. Try the shirt on and cut more as needed to achieve the perfect amount of shoulder. Now take your scissors to the sleeves.

I like to have a large neck opening and so my sleeves have to be cut quite a bit to fit right. I typically trim 3 inches, but keep the scraps for later. Try the shirt on again and make more cuts as needed. I also like to go back in and cut a triangle out of the center of the neckline to give it a little more oomph.

Though the original versions of these tops were more balloon-like than sexy, the new millennium demands an attractive update. That's where the scraps from your sleeves come back into play.

Trim the hemmed edge off each scrap and then cut the loop open. Now lay your shirt flat on a table with the front facing up. On either side, make 5 small slits with your scissors (less than half an inch in length) about an inch and a half apart. Flip the shirt over and do the same on the back side, making sure to alternate where you're cutting your slits. Again, this isn't rocket science, exact measurements are not necessary.

Now, tie a knot in one end of your sleeve scraps and thread the other end through your slits from top to bottom. The holes should be small enough to keep your scraps from falling out. With that little addition you've got ruching that will make your shirt a tad more flattering.

The cropped sweatshirt follows the same initial rules: scissors, a sweatshirt and a cut around the neckline. Step two doesn't involve cutting on the sleeves, however.

We want to keep those sleeves for the cold, rainy days of November. What you don't want is that dumpy bottom half of the shirt. Just because it's winter doesn't mean you can't look attractive.

Once you've cut the neckline, pull the shirt back on and estimate where you want to cut across the midsection. I like to cut about 2 inches below the bustline.

I also throw in some less-than-perfect darts under the armpit to gather the fabric in a bit. You can leave the shirt at that or, if you prefer a more finished look, you can sew the bottom band of the sweatshirt back on to your half-shirt. Remember, though, to cut a couple of inches off the band since the circumference of your sweatshirt is now 2 to 4 inches shorter.

Now all you need is a cute tank or fitted T-shirt to wear underneath your '80s inventions and you've got some stylish, but comfortable, clothes to run around in. Throw on some shades and watch the world pass by in 3-D É just stay away from the spandex.

Vanessa Cook is a former copy editor for the Southeast Missourian who dabbles in decorating.